greg

You seriously mean Ingrish? If that's the same as Engrish, then that doesn't sound good...

i still remember that time in Japanese class when my teacher had that site on the overhead projector- my favorite one was Tickle Me Elmo. Instead of reading "Clap Your Hands", it said "Crap Your Hands."

karlhenning

Practicing for the 22 May recital. Will play the unaccompanied Irreplaceable Doodles again (whatever my faults, I do not lack for nerve) and three pieces with Heinrich Christensen, music director of King's Chapel, at the console: Prelude on « Kremser » (actually a piece for trumpet and organ, but no matter), Handeliana and the Canzona & Gigue.

Still trying to get firm commitments from a pair of stringists for the June recital. No, rather: I already have a firm commitment from the violist, and I want to know from the cellist if she is game to put Terpsichore in Marble together. The violist and his wife will sing my old three-part Song of Mary together, too.

Two of the sopranos in the St Paul's Choir want to do Shepherd on the Rock. As long as one of them turns up a part for me to play from (— I must have one somewhere in the apartment, but I'll never find it, not at a time when I need it —) that will be fun; haven't played it since the dark days of Buffalo.

Choir rehearsal tonight! Which means that I may learn from Ed when he may be thinking of doing Nuhro, or the Magnificat (again), or (as the composer should prefer) both.

A very interesting project has arisen, a commission (prospect of performance and recording) for a Christmas piece for three voices and percussion. Texts in Portuguese have been furnished, and they are beauties. I need to ask a discreet question or two so that I know what limitations the percussionist may have, and then I think this piece will write quite quickly.

Choir rehearsal tonight! Which means that I may learn from Ed when he may be thinking of doing Nuhro, or the Magnificat (again), or (as the composer should prefer) both.

Both! That's the kind of thinking we like to see!

Thanks for the update! The piece with Portuguese texts sounds intriguing! 3 voices and percussion: I assume you will ask if the latter means things like vibraphone, tubular bells, celesta, etc. Or just a few snare drums?!

Logged

COWBOY (sitting down to a poker game for the first time): "Is this a game of chance?!"

- W. C. FIELDS (as Cuthbert Twillie): "Uhh, not the way I play it, no." in My Little Chickadee.

greg

Thanks for the update! The piece with Portuguese texts sounds intriguing! 3 voices and percussion: I assume you will ask if the latter means things like vibraphone, tubular bells, celesta, etc. Or just a few snare drums?!

Actually, he should have all 3 of them sing in a different language.How about Portuguese, Thai, and Turkmen?

Mark G. Simon

I had a great time listening to Karl's Out in the Sun, which naturally sounds much better played by real instruments than by the MIDI version which I heard earlier.

There's a lot of bustling activity, though not much harmonic motion. It reminds me of Torke (which is a compliment in my book). The first and third sections are devoted to various permutations of B flat major. Eventually the E flats fall away, and there's a short period of mixolydian-ness before the contrasting 2nd section, which has a passage for contrabass clarinet (or bass clarinet in its extended low register) and bari sax which reminds me of the saxophone break in Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke". A slow coda brings things to a restful close.

For the past 2 days I've been listening to my latest acquisition - a wonderful disc of Karl Henning's music recently released by the "Henning's Classics" label (in the "Charles Disques" series). And what a pleasant addition to my collection it is! Some truly remarkable music. I was expecting some strong Shostakovitch influences but to my surprise found none to speak of (if there is anything noticeable of that sort, then it is a faint Stravinskyan streak ). I'm especially fond of Hodie Christus natus est, where the sound of the clarinet beautifully blends with the sound of the choir, I Sang to the Sky, and Day Broke with some great interplay between percussion and wind ensemble, and also Murmur of Many Waters with a very colorful percussion. The opening of Nuhro is also quite striking and very beautiful, as is the whole piece, and in fact every piece on the CD I'm speaking of.

My wife was mightily impressed too. As for my daughter, many of you may already know that she has very discerning tastes. She will only dance to the music of Xenakis and Norgard, and so far was not given to the absent minded art of humming. However, this all changed the minute the afore mentioned CD started playing. For some unfathomable reason, Rose wanted to sing along with the choir the moment she heard it (and for the first time too!), and kept this up for quite a while. So I am pleased to report that she adores the music as well.

Listening to all these wonderful pieces I became curious of the composer himself and so conducted a google search, hoping for a decent image. The following 2 came up quite high in the results (check for yourselves!), so I gather they're a good likeness (presumably the first shows him with a member of his family):